Southwest Michigan offers a a haunting-good time for Halloween. Here are some events to keep family and friends active.

FRIDAY
• Super Happy Funtime Burlesque, Acorn Theater, Three Oaks
8 p.m. Tickets are $15
www.superhappyfuntimeburlesque.com
Each two-hour performance is like an updated variety show. It is as much “Rocky Horror” as it is “Saturday Night Live,” Bob Barker as it is Tom Waits, “Sesame Street” as it is Elm Street. There are beautiful girls dancing in glamorous costumes, comedy sketches, clever political satire, magic and acrobatic stunts. Unlike most burlesque shows, a live band performs original music written especially for each dancer.
The campy storyline is aided by fantastic costumes and clever sets reminiscent of Early Star Trek, Dr. Who and The Jetsons. There will be robots, sexy dancers, lasers, comedians, explosions, magicians, stilt-walkers and shocking characters.

• Trick-or-treating, dog dress-up contest, downtown St. Joseph, and Fuzzy Butz
5:30 p.m.
www.sjtoday.org, www.fuzzybutzpetbakery.com
Trick-or-treating at participating downtown merchants will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The second annual dog dress-up contest will be held in front of Fuzzy Butz, 306 State St., at 7 p.m.   Contact Fuzzy Butz for dog dress-up registration at (269) 983-9663. For more information, call St. Joseph Today at (269) 985-1111.

•Niles Haunted House Scream Park, Niles
7 to 11 p.m.
www.haunted.org
The Niles Haunted House Scream Park will host Capt. Jack Sparrow from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.; U93 radio remote with Rob and A.J.; Monsters of the Midway from 8 to 9 p.m.; and Zendor Presents: The Puppet Master from 8 to midnight. The park is located at 855 Mayflower Rd., Niles, one-fourth mile south on Mayflower Road off Niles-Buchanan Road and Exit 5 of the U.S. 31 bypass. For more information, call (269) 687-FEAR.

• Halloween Spectacular feat. The Van Dyke Revnue, Niles Elks Lodge
8 p.m.
Prizes for sexiest, funniest, scariest and most creative costumes. For more information, call the Elks at 683-0133.

•Halloween party, Cass County Council on Aging, Cassopolis
Noon
www.casscoa.org
Dress up or just see who wins prizes for best costumes and enjoy the fun starting at noon. Party is free; lunch is available for about $5.

•Adult Halloween dance, Edwardsburg Conservation Club
6 p.m.
www.edwardsburgconservationclub.org
Costumes welcome, but not required. Prizes for best costumes. Tickets $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Music by the Snapper Band at 8 p.m. Cash bar, sloppy joes and munchies. Open to the public.

SATURDAY

•Heritage Center/Curious Kids’ Museum trick-or-treating, St. Joseph
1 to 6 p.m.
The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will offer a special Halloween program for young visitors. Costumes are encouraged but not required for this free event. The feature for Halloween will be a spooky (not too spooky) flashlight tour of the darkened Ice Age mastodons and saber tooth tiger exhibit. Children who attend will learn about the Ice Age animals that roamed Berrien County thousands of years ago. Visitors will have fun in the tours of the exhibit, cave art drawing activities, a costume contest, fun and prize giveaways. Each child will also receive temporary tattoos of Ice Age. The costume contest winner will be chosen at 2 p.m. and will receive a prize from the museum store.
Then, follow the footprints to more fun when Curious Kids’ Museum on the Bluff, 415 Lake Blvd., for free trick-or-treating among the more than 100 hands-on exhibits. Admission free for any child in costume.

•Niles Haunted House Scream Park, Niles
7 to 11 p.m.
www.haunted.org
The Niles Haunted House Scream Park will host the Amy and Cort Hullinger Marriage Vow Renewal Ceremony, 7 p.m.; Capt. Jack Sparrow from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.; Michigan Ghostbusters; WSMK radio remote; Kent Arnsbarger Steel Drum Player from 8:30 to 11 p.m.; and Zendor Presents: The Puppet Master from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. The park is located at 855 Mayflower Rd., Niles, one-fourth mile south on Mayflower Road off Niles-Buchanan Road and Exit 5 of the U.S. 31 bypass. For more information, call (269) 687-FEAR.

•Trek or Treat, E.B. Clark Woods, Buchanan
12:30 to 2 p.m.
Halloween Trek or Treat will be held Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at E.B. Clark Woods, Buchanan.

•Costume contest, Niles District Library, Niles
2:30 p.m.
www.nilesdistrictlibrary.com.
A Halloween costume contest will be held at the Niles District Library.

•The Niles Downtown Trick-or-Treat
Main Street
4 to 5 p.m.

•Pet costume contest, Tractor Supply Co., 2125 S. 11th St., Niles
2 p.m.
A Halloween pet costume contest will be held. First place will receive a $50 TSC gift card; second place will receive a $35 TSC gift card; third place will receive a 20-pound bag of dog food; fourth place will receive a dog pillow. Entries will be taken starting at 1:30 p.m. until judging begins.

•Off the Street Trunk or Treat, Cass County Fairgrounds, Cassopolis
4 to 6 p.m.
The Cass County, Michigan 4-H Youth Development Program is hosting a community-wide activity that will include educational safety topics for the whole family. Its purpose is to engage the community to participate in an event together, create awareness regarding the opportunity for area youth to participate in 4-H and give children a fun, safe and educational Halloween activity. There will be costume and trunk decorating contests and prizes awarded.

•Optimist Club Halloween parade, Beeson Street, Dowagiac
10 a.m.
The Optimist Club of Dowagiac holds its annual Halloween parade for children up to 11 years old. Starting at 10 a.m. from Beckwith Park on Beeson Street, the parade turns left onto South Front Street, passes through downtown to City Hall and turns east at Park Place, doubling back north to the gazebo on Depot Drive. Optimists give out awards for best costumes in five age groups (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and 9-11) and bags of candy donated by local merchants to all participants back at the park.

•Trick-or-treating and ACTION Ministries’ church trunk-or-treating, Dowagiac
6 p.m.

•Paranormal investigation at Van Buren County “poor farm,” Hartford
8 p.m.
The Van Buren County Historical Museum at 58471 Red Arrow Highway invites the public to come join the Southern Michigan Paranormal Investigators who will try to bring some former residents of the Van Buren County “poor farm” into focus.  Between 8 and 9 p.m., the investigators will arrive and participants will see the set up and hopefully images and sounds will be forth coming, (they have in the past). The cost is $10 per person, with light treats being served. Reservations are limited and they can be made with board members Tad Moody at (269) 621-2546 or Roylinda Rumbaugh at (269) 569-1639.

SUNDAY

•Niles Haunted House Scream Park, Niles
7 to 10 p.m.
www.haunted.org
The Niles Haunted House Scream Park will host Capt. Jack Sparrow from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and Zendor Presents: The Puppet Master from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The park is at 855 Mayflower Rd., Niles, one-fourth mile south on Mayflower Road off Niles-Buchanan Road and Exit 5 of the U.S. 31 bypass.

•Fraternal Order of Police Halloween party, Coloma FOP Lodge 147, 3470 Angling Rd.
Kids, 4 to 6 p.m.; adults, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
http://fop147.org

MONDAY

•The Niles Neighborhood Trick-or-Treat
6 to 7:30 p.m.

• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church trunk-or-treat, 1340 Sycamore St., Niles
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will hold a trunk-or-treat Halloween event in the church parking lot. All neighborhood children and parents are welcome to attend. Children should bring their own treat bags.

• St. Joseph citywide trick-or-treating
6 to 7:30 p.m.

•Niles Haunted House Scream Park, Niles
7 to 10 p.m.
www.haunted.org
The Niles Haunted House Scream Park will host Capt. Jack Sparrow from 7:30 to 10 p.m.; Monsters of the Midway from 8 to 9 p.m.; and Zendor Presents: The Puppet Master from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The park is located at 855 Mayflower Rd., Niles, one-fourth mile south on Mayflower Road off Niles-Buchanan Road and Exit 5 of the U.S. 31 bypass. Call (269) 687-FEAR.

• Halloween Witches on the Porch, Witches’ Tea Tasting, Edwardsburg Museum
1 to 4 p.m.
A new activity added this year in addition to the  “Halloween Witches on the Porch” will be a Witches’ Tea Tasting. The witches will be brewing teas with the help of Karen Nelson of Nelson’s Herbs. The public is invited to to taste different teas.

TUESDAY

• The Great Halloween Candy Buy Back 2011, Bridgman Family Dental Care, 9151 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman
4 to 6 p.m.
Bring children ages 12 and under who have unopened candy to donate. Children will be paid $1 per pound of candy; 5-pound maximum. Each child will receive a tree toothbrush and goody bag. Candy will be shipped overseas to troops. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

KEEPING IT SAFE ON HALLOWEEN

•Avoid costumes with excessive flowing fabric, such as capes or sleeves. Loose clothing can easily brush up against a jack-o-lantern or other open flame, causing the costume to catch on fire.
•Make sure your child’s costume fits properly. Oversized costumes and footwear, such as clown or adult shoes, can cause your child to trip and fall. Avoid hats that will slide over eyes.
• Apply face paint or cosmetics directly to the face, and make sure it is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. A loose-fitting mask can obstruct a child’s vision. Be certain it fits securely.
n If possible, choose a brightly colored costume that drivers can spot easily. If not, decorate costumes with reflective tape and stickers.